Cyperus papyrus

Germination

Sow indoors late winter-spring. The seeds are very small, you may mix with a little silver sand to aid sowing if desired. Surface sow onto moist seed compost. Just cover with a light sprinkling of soil. Darkness may aid germination, cover seed and keep moist. Ideal temp. 21°C. Germination takes 2 weeks approx. Transplant a clump of seedlings at a time, approx. 8 weeks from germination into 8-10 cm pots and grow on. Transplant again to a larger pot after another 8 weeks and grow on again under glass or plant out in summer.

Growing

Grow under glass in the UK with a minimum temp. 5°C. Prefers a loam-based potting compost in bright filtered light. Water freely in summer and maintain high humidity. Apply a liquid fertiliser monthly. Can be grown outside as a bog or marginal plant, submerged at a depth of up to 10cm. Outdoor plantings will need to be overwintered at temps above 5°C.

Cultivation

Cut back dead foliage in autumn. Do not allow soil to dry out at any time. Propagate by division of established clumps.